Read Online Code Red Lipstick by Sarah Sky - Free Book Online Page A

briefcase had normal frequencies and firewalls, as did the businessman’s laptop. She swept the whole carriage, just to be on the safe side. Devices belonging to an M16 undercover agent would light up like the Fourth of July due to their complicated security systems. They’d be more protected than Buckingham Palace.
    The carriage was clean.
    After a few minutes, the train pulled away from the station and she relaxed for the first time all day. Everything had gone to plan so far. Ravenous, she devoured her croissant and washed it down with swigs of frappuccino. She flicked through the agency’s emails. Primus had arranged for a car to pick her up from Gare du Nord and forwarded a detailed itinerary, along with her chaperone’s mobile. She was free today but the rest of the week looked pretty stacked. She’d have to dodge Camille and probably skip a few castings too. She’d face Felicity’s wrath on her return to London.
    She flicked open her pendant and stared at the thumb-sized photos of her parents. She took in her dad’s kind, tanned face with the strong jaw she’d inherited, the honest blue-grey eyes and short, silver hair. She touched her mum’s picture. Mattie was right. She did look like her. They had the same long blonde hair and the gap between their front teeth. This photo had been taken shortly before her death. She didn’t remember the crash or the funeral. She only had a few memories: Mum pushing her along on her bicycle; giving her a raspberry lolly when she grazed her knee; the scent of roses.
    She snapped the pendant shut and closed her eyes. She’d lost her mum.
    She wasn’t about to lose her dad too.

“ Pardonnez-moi .”
    Jessica jolted awake.
    Someone had accidentally brushed against her, holding a coffee cup. The woman exited the carriage. A passenger sat opposite Jessica, buried behind a copy of the Financial Times . She tensed as she looked about. Where had everyone gone? There weren’t any stops before Paris but the carriage was empty apart from the person sitting opposite: a man, judging by the hands.
    She leapt up. The man lowered his newspaper and folded it neatly in half.
    â€œWhich part of the ‘you’re not allowed to go to Paris’ order didn’t you understand?” Nathan snapped. “I thought I’d made myself pretty clear yesterday, or don’t teenagers understand plain English any more?”
    Ohmigod. She was well and truly busted. She was still debating what to say when he jumped to his feet.
    â€œI’ll let you think about that while I buy us both a cup of tea. You look pretty pale. Do you want a sandwich?” He stared icily at her. “I could really do without you fainting on me right now. Or pretending to faint.”
    She shook her head. Judging by the look on his face, he’d probably relish lacing her sandwich with poison.
    â€œSuit yourself.” He patted his jacket to find his wallet.
    Jessica looked up and down the carriage for an escape route.
    â€œSit down,” he growled. “There’s no point trying to run off. We don’t arrive in Paris for another hour so there’s nowhere to go. I don’t want to cause a scene by handcuffing you, but I will if I have to. I’ve already cleared this carriage to give us some privacy.” He gestured to the empty seats before leaving.
    She checked her watch. Nathan was right. The toilets were the only place to hide but she couldn’t stay locked inside a cubicle for ever. More MI6 agents could be aboard. She couldn’t jump from the train either. At this speed, she’d never survive. Her best bet would be to try and shake him off when they arrived. She could outrun him in the station.
    After a couple of minutes the door slid open and Nathan reappeared, frowning hard. His black mood clearly hadn’t lifted. His mobile was clamped to his ear and a white paper bag swung from his other hand.
    â€œI want